paste

A soft, plastic. adhesive composition, having a
high order of yield value, and generally prepared
by heating a mixture of starch and water and
subsequently cooling the hydrolized product.

Paste has been used for centuries to join porous,
non-greasy materials. At one time it was made from
flour (frequently wheat flour) mixed with water,
but other materials now are frequently added to
achieve particular results. The present-day
tendency is to use ready-made paste in which the
proportions of the ingredients are scientifically
blended.

Paste has many uses in bookbinding, although its
use is declining in favor of the increased use of
cold resinous adhesives, such as polyvinyl
acetate. It is still used, however, in covering,
for pasting down endpapers, and in casing-in, etc.
It is also used for decorative work (see: PASTE PAPERS ), in
repairing torn leaves, and the like. In paper
conservation, rice starch and wheat starch pastes
are used for hinging, lining, and in long-fiber
repairs. (183 , 186 , 218 , 309 , 339 )